This School Year Has Been Unlike Any Other

In America, a fall semester unlike any other is begun.



Like a goblin in a Halloween cornfield, the coronavirus lurks around every corner, ready to spring out and startle — if not sicken or kill — anybody who dares to walk by.
It's wreaking havoc on the educational system, as some institutions refuse to open while others do, only to close again as the number of cases rises. Some are conducted online, while others are conducted in person — or both. Students, teachers, administrators, and parents are all under a lot of stress, which has exacerbated educational inequities. After all, schools give more than just an education: they also provide food, sociability, and internet links to the rest of the world, as well as child care for working parents.

For so many people who rely on everything, the uncertainty is terrifying.
But hold on a second. Throughout history, some people have risen up and coped — more than coped, in fact. They show tenacity, ingenuity, and the capacity to think beyond the box.
Some experts believe that many of these initiatives will improve the way children are taught and learn in the future.

One of the optimists is Chris Cerf, who began his career as a high school teacher and went on to serve as the New Jersey education commissioner, deputy chancellor for the New York City Department of Education, and the creator of Cadence Learning.
"I am confident that we will learn a great deal about how to provide quality education to pupils as a result of this pandemic," he added.